The Mi Mix 2S gets a DxOMark score of 97 — the same as the iPhone X
DxOMark says the Mi Mix 2S renders “some of the smoothest files” in low-light, with the camera holding its own next to the Pixel 2 and Galaxy S9.
With hardware becoming commoditized, camera quality is increasingly becoming the differentiator for flagships. That’s where DxOMark comes in — over the course of the last year, the website has become the de facto standard for measuring smartphone cameras. It’s score is often touted by manufacturers during phone launches, and it’s no different with the Mi Mix 2S.
During the unveil, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun announced that the phone has picked up a DxOMark photo score of 101, with an overall score of 97 — the same as the iPhone X.
Like most other Chinese manufacturers, Xiaomi compared its latest flagship to the iPhone X, with Jun offering several camera samples of the two phones side-by-side. As you’d imagine, the Mi Mix 2S was clearly the better phone.
DxOMark echoed a similar statement, stating that the still image quality of the Mi Mix 2S is “among the best we’ve rated,” and that the device offered “consistently good performance in all lighting conditions, super-fast and accurate autofocus, as well as bold color rendition.” DxOMark even went on say, “this little gem from China is up there with the best:”
With an overall DxOMark score of 97, the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S runs neck-and-neck with some high-end devices from more established manufacturers such as Apple, Google, and Samsung. With an excellent Photo sub-score of 101 points, the Xiaomi achieves the same score for still photography as iPhone X, and is only three points behind the Samsung S9+.
Its standout features are the excellent phase detection autofocus system, which is fast, accurate and very repeatable, together with its nice balance between texture preservation and noise reduction. In low light, the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S renders some of the smoothest files we’ve seen, and luminance noise is very well-controlled in outdoor images, too.
For a look at all the detailed findings, hit up DxOMark from the link below:
DxOMark review of the Mi Mix 2S camera
Interested in knowing more about the Mi Mix 2S and seeing how the camera fares in real-world shooting conditions? Read our preview:
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S preview: Great hardware and vastly improved software
Nest Hello review: The smartest doorbell
Nest didn’t reinvent the doorbell — that was done already. But it’s made the best one you can buy.
In retrospect, I should have seen this coming long ago. The idea of a video doorbell isn’t all that novel. It’s just a basic button, camera, speaker and mic, with some flashing lights tossed in. That’s not all that technologically advanced, right?
Nor does such a thing need to do all that much. It needs to show you who’s at the door. It needs to allow you to talk to that person, and you talk to them. And it needs to record all this somewhere accessible, should something untoward happen.
No. Video doorbells, at their core, really are relatively simple products. So what could Nest Hello — the video doorbell entry from the Google-owned company known for its gorgeous thermostats, cameras, security system (and not-inexpensive prices) possibly do that hasn’t been done by the likes of Ring (and others) already?
A good bit, I’ve learned in a week or so of initial use of a Nest Hello purchased at retail. But also not without some room for improvement.
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What you need to know
Nest Hello basics
Here’s the gist: Nest Hello is a $229 video doorbell that’s powered by a low-voltage wiring system. There’s a good chance that if you already have a doorbell, you’ve already got this. But … it needs a low-voltage system with a transformer capable of handling 16V-24V.
As the name implies, it’s got a camera built in. Plus a mic and speaker. So using the Nest Android or iOS app (or Nest’s web portal in a browser) you can see who’s at the door either live, or via a recording. You can talk to them, they can talk to you.
Your doorbell can still ring like it always has, but Nest has some excellent smart notifications rigged up. More on those in a bit.
See at Nest
You can do it
Nest Hello installation
The first thing anyone asks me about one of these doorbells — and this is either the fifth or sixth I’ve installed in my own home — is about how easy it is to put in and set up.
Can you use a screwdriver? What about a drill? Can you follow basic instructions and maybe watch a video or two? Know how to turn off a breaker in a breaker box? That’s all it takes. And for what it’s worth, the process is almost identical to that of installing a Ring Pro, that company’s high-end doorbell.
Before you do anything, though, I’d recommend spending a few minutes with the installation video, just so you don’t rush things. (I dunno about you, but I tend to get a little … excited … when I’ve got a shiny new thing in hand. This is just insurance.) In fact, here’s the video:
Nest walks you through the physical installation as you add the doorbell to the Nest app. Like with other Nest products, you do that by scanning a tiny barcode. I like that over putting the doorbell into a pairing mode and then praying Wifi Direct actually works, because Wifi Direction often doesn’t actually work on the first try. (Particularly on Android phones, but that’s another gripe for another day.) From there, the app goes through every single step you’ll need, with that video to help guide you.
If you can change a light fixture, you can install Nest Hello.
You’ll also have to do a little work at the doorbell chime — and you do have to have a low-voltage system with a transformer capable of handling 16 volts, which is something I had to upgrade (again, just a very minor wiring job) back when I installed the Ring Pro. You’ll rig up a little bypass in there (also just like with the Ring Pro), and then head outside.
That’s all simple enough. And as it does with its other products, Nest includes pretty much everything you need to install right there in the box. (The Nest logo on the drill bit and SIM card tool — which you use to remove the doorbell from the wall — is a cute touch. Try not to lose it, though.)
My only real quibble with the installation process is that there’s not a whole lot of wiggle room when it comes to positioning the doorbell itself because of how the low-voltage wires come through the mounting plate. That’s a relatively minor thing, though — I had to drill a new hole and reroute the wires. Again, that’s sort of basic home-improvement stuff. And the wire extensions Nest included helped with that as well.
Finish the setup in the app, and you’re done. If you know what you’re doing, it should take maybe 20 minutes or so.
Using Nest Hello
Nest Hello shows up in the Nest app like any of its other sibling cameras. In fact, you very much get the sense that it’s a camera first, and doorbell second. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you’re experienced with any of the other cameras in Nest’s stable. It works exactly the same. (Up to and including the ability to have it shut off when Nest sees that you’re home — but I’m not sure why you’d ever want to do that.)
It’s worth spending a few minutes looking through all the options, particularly when it comes to notifications. Because that’s where Nest Hello really starts to shine.
As a prerequisite, though — you’re going to want to have a Nest Aware subscription. You get a free month to try it out. Beyond that, I’ve opted for the least-expensive plan at $50 a year. (Subsequent devices get a discount, but it still adds up.) For that you get continuous recording, with everything backed up to Nest’s cloud for five days before rolling over. (You can pay more for 10 or 30 days of backup, but I’ve found that five is plenty for me.) Do you have to have a Nest Aware subscription? No. You get 3 hours of recorded video for free. But you’ll miss out on the smart alerts. And they work thusly:
Like the Nest Cam IQ, Nest Hello is able to tie into the “Familiar Faces” thing. It works like this: Nest sees a face, then gives you the option to give it a name. The next time it sees that face, the notification will say something like “Hey, Phil’s been seen in the camera.” It’s more personal, which is cool, but it also means I can parse notifications that much more quickly. Nest Hello sees my kid at the door? Cool. I don’t need to actually open up the app and see who’s there. It’s a time-saver.
Image quality, connection speed and smarter notifications give Nest a huge edge.
But Nest Hello actually goes even further in that when someone rings the bell, it can fire off notifications through any Google Home device — Mini, OG or Max — to let you know someone’s there. I’ve got a Google Home Mini stashed on my back patio, and now I’ll never miss someone at the door because I couldn’t hear the chime.
Familiar faces can be a little hit and miss sometimes — I think I need to retrain it to my face, for example — and I really want the option to not have all six Google Homes go off. (OK, maybe that’s just a Phil problem.) But in any event, the notifications are so much smarter than anything I’ve used in another doorbell. I also have gotten fare fewer false positives.
The other major advantage of Nest Hello has to do with lag and latency. If someone triggers a motion alert or rings the bell, you need to be able to respond as quickly as possible. There’s always going to be a little lag in this sort of thing, but you want that latency as close to zero as you can get. Having the camera run continuously helps with that, no doubt. And maybe Nest has some other secret sauce in the hardware, or maybe it’s just really good on the server side of things.
But the bottom line is I’ve not had a single instance where the camera failed to load in the app, or it was so far behind that I never had a chance to respond to the notification. That’s aces.
And speaking of responding, Nest has another trick up its sleeve with a trio of verbal quick responses. If you don’t want to actually speak to someone at the door, you can choose one of the three canned replies. Neat trick. But useful? I’ll just have to see.
All that’s great, though. But what’s really sold me on Nest Hello is that it just looks so much better than anything else I’ve used. It touts having HDR baked in, and there’s definitely a noticeable difference, especially on a front porch that’s often backlit. Night mode is just fine, too.
Damn, it’s just better …
The bottom line
There are quite a few video doorbells out there at this point. I’ve used everything from Ring. Nest Hello is better. It’s better because the picture itself is better. It’s better because the notifications are smarter.
Nest has made a better smarter doorbell.
That’s not to say it’s without faults. Nest’s apps could use better options for granting permissions to family members. The Nest Secure security system has secondary account access for family members — the doorbell would be good to take advantage of this, too. As it stands I’ve had to give my kids full access to our Nest account. I’d prefer something I have more control over.
And for some reason Nest only records audio from the doorbell itself — not what’s being spoken through the app to the person who’s at the door. That’s a big miss (I’ve asked Nest to clarify whether this is a bug, or oversight, or if it’s working as intended) but have yet to hear back.
But on its own, Nest Hello easily is the best doorbell I’ve used. I wouldn’t rip out an existing Ring Pro for it, but it is the one I’ll be recommending from here on out — especially if you’re already an owner of other Nest products.
See at Nest
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Five months later, how’s the Pixel 2 treating you?
Google’s flagship is still alive and kicking.
Beleive it or not, it’s been a little a little over five months since Google announced the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. The phones were met with a fair bit of controversy following their initial release for a variety of quality control and display issues, but now the storm has subsided and most all of the kinks have been worked out.
I’ve personally been rocking a regular Pixel 2 since its release, and I’ve yet to see any phone that’s tempted me to switch. Does the same hold true for our forum users?
Trusted Member Jerimiah Bonds recently asked our forum users how they’re still liking the phone five months into its life cycle, and these are a few of the top responses.
Almeuit
03-23-2018 04:59 PM“
Sup Jeremiah :).
I have been good. Same ol’ same ol .. except I have cut myself out of the phone game. I have other stuff to worry about and phones that are coming out are either the same or very minimal upgrades. I am keeping my Pixel 2 XL until a Pixel 3 :P.
Camera is still awesome. Love the updates / security patches. No issues from them so far.
Reply
cbreze
03-23-2018 05:32 PM“
Still diggin’ my Pixel 2. I agree with the minimal upgrades that are in the releases. With the P2, no need to upgrade anyway as it is already an upgrade. Nice to have cash for other things.
JB, you still rockin’ yours?Reply
vzwuser76
03-24-2018 02:05 AM“
Still have mine, still love it. Camera is quick and accurate, phone is as snappy as the day I got it, it’s just nice not looking for the next device to get better performance. Will be looking at the Gen 3 when it drops, but otherwise, content is the perfect word to describe how I feel.
Reply
idiotekniques
03-25-2018 01:05 AM“
I didn’t post here for a couple months because I was too busy just enjoying the Pixel 2XL without having to think about it. It’s just an amazing phone – there was no need to overthink it or constantly analyze it anymore or read about it. Not thinking about your phone in my case means it’s really doing it’s job well. No slowdowns, zero performance issues, it just works – and really really well. I…
Reply
Now, we’d like to hear from you – How’s the Pixel 2/2 XL treating you all these months later?
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The Morning After: The first Chrome OS tablet and a new ‘Fortnite’ record
Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.
While we prepare for Apple’s field trip event (starts at 11 AM ET), you can check out the first Chrome OS tablet and our review of Fitbit’s latest smartwatch.
A stylish smartwatch at the right price.Fitbit Versa review
The Fitbit Versa is a prettier, cheaper version of the company’s first true smartwatch, the Ionic. It lacks built-in GPS and NFC payments, but you’ll save $100 if you opt for the new watch over the original. Fitbit promises you’ll get “four-plus” days out of its battery, and, indeed, the watch only conked out after close to five days of use, during which it tracked at least two workouts and four nights of sleep.
Chromebook Tab 10.Meet the first Chrome OS tablet
Acer has unveiled the first Chrome OS tablet, the Chromebook Tab 10, and there’s nary a keyboard to be found. The 9.7-inch slate is aimed squarely at education, where the all-touch input and light weight (1.21 pounds) could make it a better fit for younger students. For now, Acer is only making the $329 tablet available to commercial and education customers.
And Linksys, and WeMo and Phyn.Foxconn buys Belkin
Prepare for another significant smart-home entrant: Foxconn. Its ticket to the event is an $866 million purchase of Belkin. Belkin not only makes its own devices and accessories, it also owns other brands you may be familiar with, like Linksys (routers), WeMo (home automation) and Phyn (water monitoring). Of course, we won’t call it done until the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States approves — just ask Broadcomm how that can go.
The 2019 Insight.Honda unveils its new upscale hybrid sedan
The new Insight has very little to do with the funky original Insight (1999 to 2006) and a later model produced between 2009 and 2014, other than they’re all hybrids. It’s a sedan rather than a hatchback, for one, and looks much more, er, conventional than the others. With 151 total horsepower and a lightweight structure, it offers the best power-to-weight ratio in its class, Honda says, along with a 55 mpg city mileage rating.
Take that, Ninja.‘Fortnite’ hot streak grows with a record-breaking YouTube stream
YouTube’s Ryan Wyatt revealed that a Fortnite Battle Royale event set a record for the largest single live game stream, with 1.1 million simultaneous viewers watching ElrubiusOMG in action.
It’s $3,744 cheaper than the hardware version.The revolutionary Minimoog Model D synth is now available as an iOS app
The $4.99 (for a limited time) iOS app faithfully recreates the physical version of the Minimoog down to the wood beam that separates the knobs and the keys.
Musk: Consider it a ‘mature beta.’Tesla’s overhauled navigation system will roll out this weekend
Elon Musk tweeted that Tesla’s new navigation system should be rolling out this weekend.
But wait, there’s more…
- What’s on TV: ‘Final Four,’ ‘Far Cry 5,’ ‘Alex Inc.,’ ‘The Last Jedi,’ ‘Rapture’ and ‘The Titan’
- The Boring Co. will sell giant ‘Lego-like’ building bricks
- A viral photo of Parkland survivor Emma Gonzalez is the latest fake news
- Arizona governor suspends Uber’s self-driving car tests
- Cambridge Analytica accused of violating US election laws
- Apple’s big push into original TV could start next March
- ‘Pokémon Go’ fetch quests could bring you closer to Mew
The Morning After is a new daily newsletter from Engadget designed to help you fight off FOMO. Who knows what you’ll miss if you don’t Subscribe.
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Brexit may exclude UK from the EU’s GPS satellite program
Europe plans to exclude the UK from its GPS-like Galileo satellite program because of Brexit, and Britain isn’t happy about it. In a letter to the UK government, Europe said that UK businesses may no longer be able to bid on the project and the UK military might be able to use the system. That’s because the UK will no longer be part of the EU on March 29th, 2019, so Galileo’s security would be “irretrievably compromised” if it continues to participate, the EU said.
Europe had already decided to move the backup Galileo monitoring site from the UK to Spain, and UK businesses warned the government that work done in Britain could be lost due to Brexit. Nevertheless, UK Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson was reportedly “furious” about the move, according to the BBC, and called the EC’s proposed exclusion “deeply disappointing.”
The UK’s argument is that it has already contributed a lot of expertise and money to Galileo. It also accused the EU of playing politics, because French companies might benefit if the UK can’t participate. Williamson also said that the move will will impact security in both the UK and EU. It’s worth noting, however, that since the UK no longer wants to be a member of the EU, it won’t have any say about future European Commission (EC) decisions.
The government has been clear that we want our critical role in this important project, which will help strengthen European security, to continue as we develop our deep and special partnership with the EU.
“The government has been clear that we want our critical role in this important project, which will help strengthen European security, to continue as we develop our deep and special partnership with the EU,” it told The Register in a statement. “This could only happen with complete UK involvement in all aspects of Galileo, including the key secure elements which the UK has unique specialisms in and have helped to design and implement.”
UK Prime Minister Theresa May has said she wants a full defense and security treaty with the EU, but negotiations are far from complete. The European Commission (EC) has told the European Space Agency (ESA) — which isn’t part of the European Union body — that it should prepare for scenario where there’s no Brexit deal in place. If the deal is finalized at the last hour, however, it might be too late for Britain to keep access to Galileo.
Britain is also preparing for a rift with the EU with plans to launch its own spaceport, for instance. The UK Defense Ministry is reportedly also looking at launching its own GPS-like system if talks with the EU fail.
Source: BBC
US judge blocks lawsuit accusing YouTube of censoring conservatives
Google has successfully convinced a California federal judge to toss out (PDF) a lawsuit accusing its video-sharing platform YouTube of censoring conservatives. The lawsuit was filed in October by Dennis Prager, a conservative radio host and YouTuber who runs the channel PragerU. His videos include conservative viewpoints on topics like abortion, climate change and income equality. Prager accused YouTube of being biased against conservatives by placing age restrictions and refusing to run ads on some of his videos without a “compelling, significant or legitimate reason.”
He argued that while YouTube is privately owned, Google runs it as a public forum, which makes it subject to First Amendment scrutiny. In his lawsuit, he referenced the 1954 Supreme Court case Marsh v. Alabama, brought about by a Jehovah’s Witness distributing leaflets in a town fully owned by a corporation. The court in that case ordered the corporation to run its town in accordance with the constitution — Prager’s point is that the corporation is like Google and YouTube that town.
US District Court Judge Lucy Koh, however, disagreed and referenced more recent Supreme Court cases that didn’t arrive at the same conclusion. One of the cases she referenced was the 1972 Lloyd Corp. v. Tanner case, wherein the court ruled that a mall can ban people from distributing anti-Vietnam War fliers in its premises.
Koh wrote in her decision that she “is not convinced that Marsh can be extended to support Plaintiff’s contention that Defendants should be treated as state actors subject to First Amendment scrutiny merely because they hold out and operate their private property as a forum for expression of diverse points of view.” Either way, Prager can still re-file an amended version of his lawsuit, so this is likely not the last time we’ll hear about this case.
Via: The Hollywood Reporter
Source: US District Court (PDF)
‘PUBG’ developer considers region locking for smoother gameplay
PlayerUnknown’s BattleGrounds came out of beta last December, and earlier this month creator Brendan Greene promised a much slicker game going forward. It’s no secret the game has suffered from hacking problems in its short lifespan, so now the team — despite earlier rebuttals — says it’s considering region locking after all.
In an update post on Steam Community, PUBG says that by operating servers so that only those players residing inside that region can connect and play, it aims to “provide a better gameplay experience as it will improve network issues and help with linguistic barriers.” The team is going to run a limited test before making any global decisions, though.
The update also announces the arrival of weapon skins, which can be acquired through the new weekly random paid “Triumph Crate” (with a drop rate of 20 percent), or the free non-random “Raider Crate” (with a drop rate of 100 percent). The team has also fixed a number of bugs, including refresh issues on friends lists, glitches with vehicle entry and exit when near a building, and the most maddening of all, being run over when exiting a slow moving vehicle.
Source: Steam Community
Xiaomi Takes on iPhone X With New Mi Mix 2S Smartphone Featuring Dual Camera System and Wireless Charging
Xiaomi unveiled its new Mi Mix 2S smartphone at a packed auditorium in Shanghai today, claiming that the handset surpasses iPhone X in several departments while only being half the price of Apple’s flagship device.
From the front, the maximum screen, minimal bezel design of the 5.9-inch phone looks almost identical to the Mix Mix 2 announced barely six months ago, but there are some changes to the rear, and the handset includes a number of internal updates, including support for Qi wireless charging, but it still lacks rated water resistance.
Like the original Mix Mix 2, a slim bezel below the device’s full HD LCD display houses a 5-megapixel front-facing camera in the right corner, which allows Xiaomi to avoid an iPhone X-esque notch area up top. Meanwhile, the ceramic back panel is home to a fingerprint sensor and a new 12-megapixel dual camera system consisting of a telephoto lens and a wide-angle lens, with portrait mode features and optical image stabilization.
At one point during the event, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun compared the iPhone X and Mi Mix 2S cameras side-by-side to demonstrate how much faster the Mix 2S can focus and capture subjects in shot, owing to the phone’s advanced dual-pixel autofocus. Lei Jun noted that the phone has picked up a DxOMark photo score of 101, with an overall score of 97 – the same as the iPhone X – and claimed that the camera can detect up to 216 scenes and translate text or convert currencies in real-time, thanks to its AI-powered capabilities.
Internally, the phone sports a new, more energy-efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, coupled with either 6GB or 8GB of memory, along with the same 3,400mAh battery as the earlier model, a mono speaker, and no headphone jack.
The Mix 2S will come in 64, 128, or 256GB of storage capacities, and is available in black or silver, both starting at 3,299 yuan (about $526) for the base model, and rising to 3,999 yuan (about $640) for the top-spec device which includes a 7.5W fast-charging wireless pad. The Android 8.0 Oreo-running handset will be available to buy in China from next week, before rolling out to Xiaomi’s other established markets, which presumably precludes it from launching in the U.S. for the foreseeable future. However, the phone does support all global 4G LTE networks out of the box.
Related Roundup: iPhone XTag: XiaomiBuyer’s Guide: iPhone X (Buy Now)
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple’s Online Store Down Ahead of ‘Field Trip’ Event in Chicago Today
Apple’s online store is down ahead of its education-themed “Let’s Take a Field Trip” event at Lane Tech College Prep High School in Chicago today. The keynote, which won’t be live streamed, begins at 10:00 a.m. Central Time.
We’ve already outlined what to expect in detail, but as a refresher, the focus will likely be on a new entry-level iPad that may include Apple Pencil support. New educational software is also expected, potentially including Apple’s rumored ClassKit framework.
There has also been rumors about a lower-priced MacBook Air or MacBook, estimated to cost around $799 to $899 in the United States, but a recent report indicated the notebook probably won’t be ready for today’s event.
When the store comes back online, there’s a decent chance Apple’s new AirPower wireless charging mat could be available to order, given a trio of reports that claimed the accessory will launch by the end of March. We’ll also be keeping an eye out for a new optional case required to charge AirPods with AirPower.
Apple may provide an the availability of iOS 11.3, which is nearing the end of its beta testing period. We’ve outlined everything new in the software update, including battery health information, iMessage syncing via iCloud, health records, ARKit improvements, new Animoji characters on iPhone X, and more.
Wild cards would be a second-generation iPhone SE, a new Gold or (PRODUCT)RED edition iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and/or iPhone X, and more, but given Apple’s event is at an untraditional venue and isn’t being live streamed, today’s announcements will likely be underwhelming for those expecting a lot.
MacRumors will provide full coverage of the Chicago event throughout the day, with a live blog, news stories, video recap, and more. Mac users can get headlines right on their desktops by enabling Safari push notifications. We’ll also be live-tweeting the event through @MacRumorsLive on Twitter.
Discuss this article in our forums
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S hands-on: Iteration never looked so good
Xiaomi just announced its newest device, but as you can see in our Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S hands-on, it’s a familiar one. The Mi Mix 2S brings back a full-screen experience and tries to update a few key aspects. A new lens on the back brings a dual camera setup, internals are updated, but the impressive design that started it all remains.
Also read: Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S is official: All the key details
Here are our Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S hands-on impressions.
Starting off with design, it’s easy to see how Xiaomi really believes in its choices with the Mix series. The familiar and very welcome ceramic backing returns and is highlighted by the metallic frame that separates it from the glass front. Ceramic might not be common in smartphones, but we think it really should be.
Ceramic might not be common in smartphones, but we think it really should be.
It shines really well regardless of which edition you might pick — black or the really bright white. There is no special unibody edition this time around, however. Returning elements include the fingerprint reader in an easy to reach spot and the ‘Designed by Xiaomi’ text that is sideways, centered, and classy.
The ceramic does slip about pretty easily in the hand, but the material gives the phone a decent heft. And though the material might seem to be a little bit limiting in terms of feature set, Xiaomi has done really well to figure out wireless charging. The Mix 2S supports the Qi wireless standard and Xiaomi will be developing its own charger for users to buy. The best part about that development is the price of the peripheral – around $17. That is a great price, considering how expensive wireless charging mats tend to be, and, if it’s available in multiple markets, it is sure to be a hot seller like many Mi accessories.
The Mi Mix 2 feels good in the hand despite its large screen-to-body ratio.
Handling isn’t bad considering the size of the display. The Mi Mix was one of the original 18:9 full-screen devices and that great viewing experience is continued in the 2S. In order to accommodate this Full HD+ panel, Xiaomi placed a very small speaker slit at the top, alongside an ultrasonic sensor for proximity sensing. When you put the phone up your face, the screen turns off appropriately, like with any other smartphone.
Continuing with our Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S hands-on, the phone is unlike any others when it comes to the placement of the front-facing camera. Yes, the selfie camera is still at the bottom of the device, which houses the only sizable bezel on the Mi Mix 2S. Given that the notch is appearing on more and more Android devices these days, revisiting this take on how to achieve a great screen-to-body ratio is actually refreshing. It is almost as if Xiaomi presents the Mi Mix 2S as the antithesis to the notch, keeping the Mix unique. We wonder if Xiaomi is going to eventually employ the notch, but if it stays this way, the pitfalls are at least equaled by the positives.
Speaking of that front-facing camera, it is a 5MP shooter, which is not ideal for selfies, and the act of flipping the phone around will certainly annoy some users, especially those who want to do native Instagram stories or Snapchat content.
The act of flipping the phone around will certainly annoy some users.
Beauty modes return in the main camera app, and, with face detection, the software employs an AI engine to suggest what effects to put on your face. We were not able to really test this out much, as Xiaomi has told us that our global units are not quite finalized, including in the OS and the camera software. Because of that, we will be testing the camera but doing a follow-up review of it when the time comes. Xiaomi’s brand of AI is something we definitely want to try out, especially as it helps the portrait mode of the rear cameras.
The rear camera is now a dual-lens setup with 12MP sensors. This is similar to the dual setup of the Xiaomi Mi 6, where the secondary lens is a telephoto zoom. It helps with the portrait mode, which is going to use AI to better cut out the subject from the background.
The main lens has been upgraded to the Sony IMX 363 sensor. This is a big deal because the pixel sizes are now up to 1.4 microns. Just on the hardware side of things, that should mean better low-light performance and detail should be generally improved. We already did a few tests against the previous Mi Mix 2 and we could see an improvement in sharpness and color rendering. This is something that we will have to explore further in our review, so stay tuned for that.
Editor’s Pick
Android smartphones with the best battery life (March 2018)
Some people might think that the most important feature in a smartphone is its display size. Others believe it comes down to a phone’s processor performance, or the amount of RAM, or how much storage …
Overall, the cameras show that Xiaomi really does believe in what it has already achieved in the Mi Mix, so it’s okay if a dual setup and updated sensor are some of the only improvements in this version.
The internals have been properly upgraded for this release cycle, too. The Snapdragon 845 is now what powers the Mi Mix 2S and it is sure to bring a much better experience to MIUI. The OS remains familiar but does bring a couple of new features — after all, it is the Android operating system that is constantly updated based on the feedback from users in Xiaomi’s official forums.
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One interesting development we’ve already seen in the software is the ability to swipe for navigation, a la iPhone X. Speaking of iPhone X, MIUI does not have an app drawer enabled by default, but at least that can be changed.
Everything else under the hood is high-powered, from the 6 to 8GB of RAM, to the onboard storage that goes all the way up to 256GB. Global bands are available on only the highest spec version of this phone, and if you are a power communication user, the Mi Mix 2S has a dual-SIM slot. Media users might get a little miffed at the continued omission of the headphone jack, as a USB Type-C adapter is required. That’s another accessory readily available in the Mi accessory ecosystem, if users need to buy one for cheap. And finally, the battery is 3,400mAh, which should bring some decent longevity when considering the lower resolution of the display compared to Quad HD panels out there.
And so, there you have it – our Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S hands-on. This is indeed an iterative update, but there are a few angles by which to view this device (and we’re not just talking about its good looking ceramic).
Editor’s Pick
Who owns the notch?
Essential did it first. Apple made it bigger and bolder. Now the rest of the smartphone world is playing me-too. So who “owns” the notch? And more to the point: who even wants to?
As bezels …
Xiaomi’s take on a full-screen device is increasingly uncommon, as many other manufacturers are making their own versions of the infamous notch. This is a good place to revisit whether or not(ch) such a development can stay or not, considering the mixed feedback regarding the placement of the front facing camera. Speaking of the camera, updating the Mi Mix 2 to have dual lenses is a good move, but perhaps the main development to pay attention to is the new camera sensor. We can already see improvements, and, as long as the final software properly enables all of the claimed AI features, it will be nice to see how the changes actually elevate an already well-regarded phone from China.
I will be using the Mi Mix 2S for a while in its “natural habitat”, as I travel through parts of Asia. This phone will not be made available in the West, but at least the global bands return if you wish to import it. Stay tuned for my full review of the phone including the better camera, and then, when I get my hands on the final review unit and software, I will do a camera follow up to give it the fair treatment.
Read next: Full Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S specs – Iterative, but impressive
Let us know what you think about the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S hands-on in the comments section below.
AIVAnet 